Rock rooter plow



\ F 19434 J. R. HORRIGAN 1 2,310,526

ROCK ROOTER PLOW Filed July 19, 1941 2 sheets-sheaf 1 9 v J. R. HORRIGAN I 2,31

ROCK ROUTER PLOW Filed July 19, 1941 2 Shefcs-Sheet 2 I5 ubSEPh/ B Home/6AM Patented Feb. 9, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a rock rooter plow.

An object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described specially designed for breaking up and removing stone along, and underneath, the surface of the ground preparatory to completing a ditch for laying pipe line and for other similar purposes.

In the process of forming ditches surface and sub-surface rock are often encountered making it impossible to form the ditch by an ordinary ditching machine until the rocks are broken up and removed. At the present time it is common practice to break up the rock along the right of way and in advance of the ditching machine by the use of explosives. This is a relatively slow process and impedes the normal work of forming the ditch and laying the pipe line therein.

It is the prime object of the present invention to provide a rock rooter plow which may be propelled along the right of way, in advance of the ditching machine, and which will penetrate into the earth to the required depth and which will break up the rocks encountered so that they can be moved out of the way of the ditching machine and the normal operation of the ditching machine will not be interfered with.

Accordingly, the invention has particular relation to a machine of the character described designed to precede, and prepare the way for, thefinal formation of the ditch by the ditching machine following the plow.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described which is of comparatively simple construction but which is of sumcient strength to withstand the severe strain to which it is subjected. The machine is designed to be attached to a tractor which furnishes the power for propelling the machine along. Under certain conditions it may be desired to employ two tractors which may be coupled together or one of which may be hitched to the trench forming machine, to pull it, and the other of which may be located in the rear of the rock rooter plow and utilized to push the machine thus assisting the tractor in front to which the machine is hitched.

With the above and other objects in view the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, arrangement of parts and use, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompany- 11 drawings, wherein:

Figure 1, showsa; side elevationof the machine,

partly broken away, and showing the parts in their normal working position.

Figure 2 shows a side view showing the breaker points withdrawn from the earth.

Figure 3 shows a plan view showing the parts in the same position as they are shown in Figure 1, and

Figure 4 shows a plan view showing the parts in the position illustrated in Figure 2 with the breaker points withdrawn.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate the same parts in each of the figures the numeral I refers generally to the draft beam I. In the present illustration it is composed of the side plates 2, 2 and the intermediate plate 3. The plates 2 and 3, at their rear ends, are curved downwardly forming the stock 4 and are directed forwardly and terminate in the breaker points 5, 5 and 6. The plates forming the beam, and stock are in spaced relation but are anchored securely together by a plurality of cross braces 1. These cross braces, in the present illustration, are formed of relatively heavy cylindrical bars which are welded to the plates 2, 2 and 3 so as to form a very strong and durable unitary structure. The forward end of the beam l is shown, in the present illustration, as having a transverse bearing 8 to receive a hitch, of any selected construction, whereby the beam may be connected to a suitable tractor in front. One or more tractors may be employed coupled together in tandem or a tractor may be located at the rear of the plow to push the same. For this purpose there are the spaced transverse brackets 9, 9 across the unit above described at the rear to receive the lower edge of a grader blade, not shown, carried by the forward end of the tractor in the rear.

Surface stone, or stone located near but be neath the surface is usually cracked, or partly separated, into individual stones due to variations in temperature under varying weather conditions so that solid stone will not be encoun tered by the machine in carrying on the work it is intended to do. Accordingly, as the machine moves along the breaker points will engage with a stratum of stone that has already been partially broken up due to varying weather conditions and the stone stratum or individual stone along the right of way of the ditch to be formed will be lifted out and brought to the surface and thrown aside or into position where they may be thrown aside out of the way of the following ditching machine;

On the plates 2, 2, 3, and preferably welded thereto, are the brackets [0, ill, ll through which an elongated sleeve bearing I2 is fitted and welded to said brackets. In the present illustration two ground wheels l3, [3 are provided mounted in a manner hereinafter described to support the plow during the normal operation of the machine and which may be manipulated, in the manner hereinafter explained, to regulate the depth of the breaker points. The wheels l3, I3 are mounted to rotate on the spindles l4, M. In a preferred embodiment of the machine and as illustrated particularly in Figures 3 and 4, these spindles have their inner ends fitted into the sleeves l5, l5 and pinned therein against rotation by the pins I6, l6 which extend through said sleeves and through the spindles Hi. The spindles are extended outwardly, as shown in Figures 3 and 4 and the wheels [3 are mounted to rotate on said extended ends and are keyed against detachment therefrom by the keys l1.

There is an A frame designated generally by the numeral l8. This A frame is pivoted, relative to the beam l, by means of a transverse axle l9 which forms part of the A frame and which connects the side members thereof and extends through the bearing I2 as shown more accurately in Figures 3 and 4.

.At the apex of the A frame it is formed With a sheave block comprising spaced plates such as 2| with sheaves 22, 22, and 23, mounted to rotate between said plates. At their other ends the side members of the A frame are separated into the diverging legs 24, 24 to which the sleeves [5 are secured, preferably by welding. The A frame is further reenforced and strengthened by the braces 25, 25 which may be welded, at their upper ends to the corresponding ends of the side members of the A frame and at their lower ends to the sleeves l5, IS.

The side members of the A frame 18 may also have their forward ends anchored together by means of a cross brace 26 which may be welded thereto.

This A frame construction, and the bracing therefor, may be formed of heavy piping if desired although it may be formed in any other preferred manner.

Upstanding from the plates 2, 2, 3, of the beam l, and near the forward end of said beam there is a bracket 21 formed, at its upper end, with spaced plates as 28 forming a sheave block between which the sheaves 29, 29 are mounted to rotate.

An operating cable 30 is provided, the dead end of which may be attached to the upper end of the bracket 27 and said cable may be threaded about the sheaves 22, 23, 29 and its other end may be wound about a conventional winch on the tractor in front whereby the cable may be manipulated to in turn manipulate the A frame.

The machine is shown in operating position in Figure l with the cable slacked off and with the ground wheels l3 supporting the forward end of the beam l the required distance above the ground surface. The breaker points 5, 5 will then be located at the required depth and as the machine is propelled along by the tractor or tractors the breaker points will engage with, break up and bring to the surface the rocks encountered by them.

It is to be noted that the under margins of the breaker points are formed into flat runners 3|, 32, as shown in Figure l which are parallel with the ground surface when the machine is in its normal or operation position.

In order to regulate the depth of the breaker :points the A frame may be manipulated by the cable 30. As its upper end is pulled forwardly the ground wheels will be correspondingly moved rearwardly and downwardly relative to the beam I. Accordingly, the rear end of the beam, the downwardly curved stock 4 and the breaker points will be elevated to a higher level and when the upper end of the A frame has reached the limit of its forward movement the ground wheels will have moved relatively rearwardly far enough to lift the breaker points clear of the ground as shown in Figure 2.

Stop arms 32, 32 extend out laterally each way from the side plates 2. These arms form stops to limit the range of rearward movement of the lower end of the A frame. It is to be noted that the breaker points 6 extend forwardly beyond and above the points 5, 5 on each side so that the central point will split or divide the rock and the side points 5 will assist in throwing the fragments aside.

As hereinabove indicated the plow has been particularly designed for use in the formation of ditches but it is to be understood that it is capable of general use for breaking up, preparatory to removal, of rock at or near the surface of the ground; or the machine, or plow, may be used for breaking up frozen earth or for other similar heavy duty work.

As illustrated a cable is shown for adjusting the A frame and ground wheels relative to the plow beam and breaker points but it is obvious that other means may be selected for that purpose and in this connection it is to be noted that the drawings and description are only illustrative while the broad principle of the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A rock rooter plow comprising a plow beam formed of spaced vertical plates, means for anchoring the plates in fixed relation to each other, the rear ends of the plates being downwardly turned and terminating in forwardly directed breaker points integral therewith and of approximately the same thickness of the plates whose lower margins are formed into plane running surfaces, ground runners, means under the control of an operator connecting the runners to the beam and effective, upon rotation thereof, to vary the elevation of the breaker points relative to the ground runners.

2. In a machine of the character described a beam formed of vertical spaced plates Whose rear ends are downwardly turned forming stocks which terminate in forwardly directed breaker points, said stocks and breaker points being of uniform thickness with the plates, means for anchoring said plates in fixed relation to each other, the lower margins of the breaker points being formed into approximately plane running surfaces.

3. A machine of the character described comprising an A-frame having spaced side members which are extended forwardly in normal position, ground wheels rotatably mounted on the forward ends of the side members, a .ploW beam between said side members and ground wheels, and pivoted to the frame on a transverse axis, said beam being formed of plates in parallel relation with their major dimensions vertical and whose rear ends are downwardly turned forming stocks which terminate at their lower ends in forwardly directed earth breakers of approximately the same thickness as the plates, said frame being extended rearwardly and upwardly from the pivot thereof and means connecting the rear end of the frame with the forward end of the beam whereby the frame may :be adjusted to move the wheels rearwardly and the earth breakers upwardly.

4. A machine of the character described comprising an A-frame having spaced side members which are extended forwardly in normal position, ground wheels rotatably mounted on the forward ends of the side members, a plow beam between said side members and ground wheels, and pivoted to the frame on a transverse axis, said beam being formed of'plates in parallel relation with their major dimensions vertical and whose rear ends are downwardly turned forming stocks which terminate at their lower ends in forwardly directed earth breakers of approximately the same thickness as the plates, said frame being extended rearwardly and upwardly from the .pivot thereof and means connecting the rear end of the frame with the forward end of the beamwhereby the frame may be adjusted to move the wheels rearwardly and the earth breakers upwardly, and stops on the beam engageable with the frame to limit the range of such adjustment.

JOSEPH R. HORRIGAN. 

